SALTER TEST FLIGHT UNIVERSAL

The main purpose of the Salter Test Flight Universal, led by NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, was to test and validate long-duration balloon and gondola subsystems.

Several additional payloads were also included onboard:

MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiments) a payload by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory aimed to expose melanized fungus, called Aspergillus niger, to the stratosphere's extreme radiation and temperature fluctuations, low atmospheric pressure, and absence of water, conditions much like the surface of Mars. Knowledge of how this fungus adapts to protect itself in this harsh environment could lead to the development of treatments to protect astronauts from high radiation exposure.

EMIDSS-6 (Experimental Module for Iterative Design of Satellite Subsystems 6) a development by the National Polytechnical Institute of Mexico, consisting of a technological platform with experimental design and operational validation of instrumentation that will collect and store data from the stratospheric environment to contribute to the study of climate change.

SPARROW-6 (Sensor Package for Attitude, Rotation, and Relative Observable Winds 6) developed by NASA's Balloon Program Office at NASA Wallops, aimed to demonstrate relative wind measurements using an ultrasonic anemometer designed for the balloon float environment.

WALRUSS (Wallops Atmospheric Light Radiation and Ultraviolet Spectrum Sensor) also led by NASA Wallops, is a technology demonstration of a sensor package capable of measuring the total ultraviolet wavelength spectrum and ozone concentration.

INDIGO (INterim Dynamics Instrumentation for Gondolas) a data recorder meant to measure the shock, rotation, and attitude of the gondola during the launch, float, and landing phases of flight developed by NASA's Balloon Program Office. Data will be used to improve understanding of the dynamics of flight and to inform the design of future components and hardware.

Balloon launched on: 12/21/2024 at 21:58 UTC
Launch site: Williams Field, McMurdo Station, Antarctica  
Balloon launched by: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
Flight identification number: 749N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 1/2/2025 at 4:50 UTC
Landing site: 205 km ENE from McMurdo Station

• IPN y NASA lanzan satélite EMIDSS-6 para investigar cambio climático Diario de Mexico
• NASA Scientific Balloon Flights to Lift Off From Antarctica NASA website